Michelin Group’s new Pilot Sport 4S has a Y speed rating (186+ mph) and offers a 30,000-mile warranty. The product line initially includes 35 sizes, in widths ranging from 225mm to 345mm, aspect ratios from 30 to 45, and rim diameters from 18 to 20 inches.

The company’s latest ultra high performance tire is commercially available in Europe starting this month, and it will be available in the United States starting in March for a suggested retail price of $233.

Michelin introduced the Pilot Sport 4S on Jan. 10 at the at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich. The new tire replaces the Michelin Pilot Super Sport.

“When manufacturers design and build the greatest cars, they overwhelmingly choose Michelin and the Pilot tire line to connect them with the pavement and enable the very spirit of the machine,” said Jean-Dominique Senard, CEO of Michelin Group, in a press conference at NAIAS. “The Pilot Sport 4S will be the next great tire in our Pilot family lineup, with more than 60 original equipment fitments currently under development.”

Designed for sports cars and high-performance vehicles, the tire combines the best aspects of the Pilot Super Sport with key attributes of the Pilot Sport Cup 2, according to Michelin.

Michelin is involved in motorsport disciplines worldwide and uses competition as a laboratory for accelerated development of tire technologies, which are then used in the development of its production tires. Data collected during racing, mostly from confidential tire technologies or rubber compound recipes, enable Michelin’s engineers to validate their findings. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S uses construction methods and materials directly developed in competitions such as the FIA World Endu­rance Championship (WEC) and its flagship event the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E and the World Rally Championship(WRC).

The tire’s aesthetic design features Michelin’s patented velvet sidewall branding, called Premium Touch Design, and a rim protector that will help avoid contact between the wheel rim and curb. The Pilot Sport 4S will be produced at Michelin plants in Greenville, S.C., and Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Autonomous vehicles are expected to change tire buying behavior along with consumer driving habits. In this Modern Tire Dealer exclusive, Marc Belanski, president of shop management software developer ASA Automotive Systems Inc., identifies three trends that will affect the business of selling tires.

Mark Earl is joining Nokian Tyres plc and will be in charge of implementing the tire company's growth strategy in North America. Earl, the current president of Hennessy Industries Inc., will serve as vice president of the Americas Business Area for Nokian.